Method for wrapping product

ABSTRACT

A method for wrapping a product, in which the product includes a plurality of sides and a top. The method includes the steps of providing a wrapping material adjacent the product for wrapping the product. When wrapping the top of the product, a first upper corner of the product is engaged by the wrapping material. The wrapping material is laid across the top of the product from the first upper corner to a second upper corner of the product. The second upper corner is engaged by the wrapping material, whereby the wrapping material is secured across the top of the product. The wrapping material may also be laid across the top of the product from a third upper corner to a fourth upper corner and engage the third and fourth corners. The sides of the product may be wrapped before or after the top of the product is wrapped.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/535,466, filed on Jan. 8, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the art of wrapping a product. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a method for automaticallywrapping with stretchable polymer film the sides and the top of aproduct that is disposed on a shipping pallet.

2. Background Art

It is common for products to be stacked on a shipping pallet fortransport. In particular, certain products are sold or shipped in bagsor boxes, and placing these bags or boxes on a shipping pallet allows alarge quantity of them to be shipped as a single unit. Because the bagsor boxes are typically smaller in area than the pallet, they are stackedin certain patterns that may become unstable when the pallet is moved.To stabilize the bags or boxes on the pallet for shipping, a stretchablepolymer film that is known in the art is wrapped around the bags orboxes.

For example, bags of mulch that are ready for retail sale are moreeasily transported on a pallet. Typically, a first layer of bags isplaced on the pallet, in which bags are arranged in a square pattern. Asecond layer of bags is placed directly on top of the first layer, as isa third layer, a fourth layer, and so on, until a desired number oflayers is reached. When this desired number of layers is reached, theheight of the bags on the pallet may be from about 5 to 7 feet tall.Such a large stack of bags on the pallet may become unstable duringhandling and transport of the pallet.

To make the stack of bags of product stable on the pallet, a stretchablepolymer film, known in the art as stretch wrap or stretch-wrap film, iswrapped around the stack. The film is typically sold on a roll, and theroll is typically about 1 to 2 feet wide. Placement of the film on aroll allows for relatively convenient application, as the film istypically too thin to support itself, but it is relatively strong whenstretched over an object. The film is also able to lightly stick toitself, so that it can be wrapped around the product stack with onelayer slightly overlapping a prior layer to form a thin, tight shellabout the stack. The strength of the film and its ability to lightlystick to itself typically are increased when it is placed in tension andstretched around the stack. The resulting film shell stabilizes thestack, creating a more stable shipping pallet, and also acts as aprotective layer, repelling rain, snow and dirt from the product.

Of course, single or small quantities of some products are also placedon a shipping pallet, typically because it is easier to transport theproducts on a pallet. In this case, stretch-wrap film is wrapped arounda product to help keep it from shifting and also to protect the productfrom rain, snow and dirt. As a result, reference herein to a productstack includes multiple products arranged on a pallet and a singleproduct.

Application of the stretch-wrap film to a product stack on a pallet byhand is problematic, as the process can be difficult and time consumingdue the requirement that tension be kept on the film as it is wrappedaround the stack. As a result, automatic stretch-wrap machines have beendeveloped.

One type of machine includes a turntable, on which is placed a pallethaving a stack. A roll of stretch-wrap film is held by a head that islocated beside the turntable. The head is generally aligned with thebase of the stack, which is typically referred to as the home position.The film is unrolled slightly and brought into contact with the base ofthe stack. The turntable is then rotated, in turn causing the pallet andstack to rotate, unwinding and stretching the film from the head undertension. The head moves vertically upward as the turntable rotates,causing the film to continue to wrap around the sides of the stack whileremaining in tension, with one circumferential wrap of film slightlyoverlapping the prior wrap. When the head reaches a level that isgenerally aligned with the top of the stack, the head reverses directionand wraps the stack downwardly as it returns to the home position at thebase of the pallet. The film is then cut or torn and the wrappingprocess is complete.

Another type of automatic stretch-wrapping machine keeps the pallet andstack static, while a head having a roll of film is mounted on an armthat rotates around the stack. The head is generally aligned with thebase of the stack and the film is unrolled slightly and brought intocontact with the stack. The arm then rotates, causing the head to rotateabout the stack. The head moves upwardly as it rotates around the stackand the film unrolls from the head in tension, causing the film to wraparound the stack, with each wrap slightly overlapping the prior wrap.This continues until the head reaches a level generally aligned with thetop of the stack, at which time the vertical direction is reversed andthe head wraps the stack downwardly as it returns to the base the stack,where the film is cut or torn to complete the wrapping process.

Both of these prior art machines only wrap the sides of the productstack and not the top of the stack. Because many pallets with productstacks are stored outdoors, the film is unable to protect the top of thestack from rain, snow and dirt, allowing these elements to contact thetop of the stack and also run down the stack inside the film, possiblydamaging the product. Moreover, sunlight contacting the top of the stackcan possibly undesirably discolor or otherwise damage portions of someproducts.

To attempt to overcome this disadvantage in the prior art, a separate,pre-manufactured cap or sheet of polymeric film has been placed on thetop of the stack before the stack is stretch wrapped. The sides of stackare then stretch wrapped as described above, with the stretch-wrap filmsecuring the cap to the top of the stack. However, the use of a capinvolves significant additional costs for the cap itself and foradditional labor or equipment to place the cap on the stack. Also,because the cap is typically placed on the top of the stack by hand, itcan be misaligned, creating a gap between the cap and the shrink wrapthat still allows moisture to contact the product.

Furthermore, the cap usually does not tightly bond to the rest of thestretch-wrap film. The lack of a bond is due to the inability of the capto stick to film, since it may be made from a different material as thefilm, and the fact that the cap is not under the same tension as thestretch-wrap film. This results in a discontinuous fit between the capand the stretch-wrap film, which allows moisture to run in between thecap and the film, continuing to run the risk of possible damage to theproduct in the stack.

As a result, a need exists for a process that overcomes thedisadvantages of the prior art by stretch-wrapping the top of a stack ofproduct, resulting in improved protection for the product, reduced costand increased production efficiency.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a method forwrapping the top of a product with the same machine that wraps the sidesof the product.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method forproviding increased protection for the top of a product.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a methodfor automatically wrapping the top of a product at a reduced cost.

These objectives and others are also obtained by the method for wrappinga product of the present invention, in which the product includes aplurality of sides and a top, the general nature of which may be statedas including the steps of providing a wrapping material adjacent theproduct for wrapping the product. The wrapping material is wrapped aboutthe top of the product, and when the top is wrapped, a first uppercorner of the product is engaged by the wrapping material. The wrappingmaterial is laid across the top of the product from the first uppercorner to a second upper corner of the product. The second upper corneris engaged by the wrapping material, whereby the wrapping material issecured across the top of the product.

The general nature of the method for wrapping a product of the presentinvention, in which the product includes a plurality of sides and a top,may also be stated as including the steps of providing a wrappingmaterial adjacent the product for wrapping the product. The wrappingmaterial is wrapped about the sides of the product and a first uppercorner of the product is engaged by the wrapping material. The wrappingmaterial is laid across the top of the product from the first uppercorner to a second upper corner of the product and the second uppercorner is engaged by the wrapping material. The wrapping material ismoved from the second upper corner to a third upper corner of the top ofthe product and the third upper corner is engaged by the wrappingmaterial. The wrapping material is laid across the top of the productfrom the third upper corner to a fourth upper corner of the product. Thefourth upper corner is engaged by the wrapping material, whereby thewrapping material is secured across the top of the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best modein which applicant has contemplated applying the principles of theinvention, is set forth in the following description and is shown in thedrawings, and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forthin the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side perspective view of a product and a bottomportion of an exemplary stretch-wrap machine that is capable ofperforming the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side perspective view of a top portion of theproduct and the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3E include schematic plan views of a product at various stepsof the method of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side perspective view of a portion of theproduct and a portion of the exemplary machine capable of performing themethod of the present invention, shown in a step of the method ofpresent invention, with hidden areas represented by dashed lines;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side perspective view of a portion of theproduct and a portion of the exemplary machine capable shown in FIG. 4,in another step of the method of the present invention, with hiddenareas represented by dashed lines;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side perspective view of a portion of theproduct and a portion of the exemplary machine capable shown in FIG. 4,in yet another step of the method of the present invention, with hiddenareas represented by dashed lines; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side perspective view of a portion of theproduct and a portion of the exemplary machine capable shown in FIG. 4,in still another step of the method of the present invention, withhidden areas represented by dashed lines.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings, wherein the illustrations are provided toshow a preferred embodiment of the invention and not to limit the same,the method of the present invention is described for the purpose ofconvenience with reference to an exemplary stretch-wrap machine that iscapable of performing the method, indicated generally at 10 and shown inFIGS. 1-2. It is to be understood that other machines may be adapted toperform the method without affecting the overall concept of theinvention. In addition, reference herein is made to a stack of bags forthe purpose of illustration only, as the invention applies to anyproduct that is wrapped with stretch film.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, a product 12, also referred to as aproduct stack or a pallet stack, is shown inside stretch-wrap machine10. Stretch-wrap machine 10 includes a frame 14 with vertical members16, each of which has a bottom end 18 and a top end 22 (FIG. 2).Vertical members 16 are arranged in a square, with bottom ends 18attached to a floor or foundation 20. Stack 12 is placed in theapproximate center of the square formed by vertical members 16.Optionally, stack 12 is transferred into place in machine 10 by aconveyor 26.

With additional reference to FIG. 2, horizontal frame members 24 areattached to and extend between corresponding top ends 22 of verticalframe members 16 to form integral structural frame 14. A medial framemember 28 extends across horizontal frame members 24 directly abovestack 12. A mounting plate 30 is rotatably connected to medial framemember 28 directly above stack 12, and a radial arm 32 having a firstend 34, a second end 36 and a midpoint 38 is rigidly mounted to themounting plate. Radial arm 34 is connected to mounting plate 30 atmidpoint 38. A vertical rail 40 extends downwardly from first end 34 ofradial arm 32, while a counterweight 41 extends downwardly from secondend 36.

Vertical rail 40 terminates at a bottom end 42 that is at about the samelevel as a bottom 68 of pallet stack 12. A drive unit (not shown) causesradial arm 32 to rotate, which in turn causes vertical rail 40 to rotatewithin the square formed by vertical frame members 16 and around stack12. Slidably connected to vertical rail 40 via a bearing clamp 48 is acarriage or head 44. Head 44 is able to move from bottom 42 of verticalrail 40 up to radial arm 32 at the top of the rail. It is to be notedthat the top of vertical rail 40, and thus the upper limit of verticalmovement of head 44, is well above a top 70 of pallet stack 12. Acontrol conduit 46 contains power and control cables to operate andcontrol head 44.

Head 44 includes a mounting roller 50 that holds a roll 52 ofstretch-wrap film 54 and a series of tensioning rollers 56, as known inthe art. Tensioning rollers 56 spread film 54 out and act to control thetension of the film during the wrapping process to ensure that the filmstretches properly and does not distort.

Head 44 of stretch-wrap machine 10 moves around pallet stack 12 in acircular pattern as radial arm 32 rotates. As radial arm 32 rotates,head 44 is also able to move vertically up and down along rail 40,allowing film 54 to be wrapped around pallet stack 12 according to themethod of the present invention, as will be described in detail below.It is to be noted that radial arm 32 preferably is driven in a singledirection during the wrapping process, such as a counterclockwisedirection, to maintain tension on film 54 for wrapping.

It is important to note that the foregoing description of stretch-wrapmachine 10 is by way of example only, as other machines known in the artmay be adapted to perform the method without affecting the overallconcept of the invention. For example, a machine with fewer than fourvertical members 16, or a machine that employs a fixed head 44 andinstead moves product stack 12, may be used. Having thus describedexemplary stretch-wrap machine 10 capable of performing the method ofthe invention, the method of the present invention for stretch wrappingproduct or pallet stack 12 will now be described. For the purpose ofclarity of description, reference herein is made to a bottom 64 and atop 66 of head 44, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-7. In addition, palletstack 12 includes bottom 68 and top 70, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A-E, pallet stack 12 also includes a first cornerC1, a second corner C2 and a first side S1 that extends between thefirst corner and the second corner, as well as a third corner C3 and asecond side S2 that extends between the second corner and the thirdcorner. A third side S3 extends between third corner C3 and a fourthcorner C4, and a fourth side S4 extends between the fourth corner andfirst corner C1. In the method of the present invention, head 44preferably causes stretch film 54 to make four passes, indicated aslines P1-P4, across top 70 of pallet stack 12.

To begin the stretch-wrap process, bottom 64 of head 44 is on the samegeneral horizontal level as bottom 68 of pallet stack 12 (FIG. 1).Stretch-wrap film 54 from roll 52 is placed into contact with palletstack 12 near bottom 68. Radial arm 32 is driven in either a clockwiseor counterclockwise direction, causing vertical rail 40 and head 44 torotate about pallet stack 12. For the purpose of clarity, referenceherein will be made to radial arm 32 rotating in a counterclockwisedirection. Referring to FIG. 4, As head 44 travels about pallet stack12, film 54 unrolls from roll 52 and tensioning rollers 56 are adjustedto maintain the proper amount of tension on the film. As head 44rotates, it also moves vertically upward along vertical rail 40 at aspeed that allows stretch-wrap film 54 to wrap around sides S1-S4 ofpallet stack 12 in a continuous overlay manner as known to those skilledin the art.

Head 44 continues at a set speed about pallet stack 12 until the head isat a vertical level at which top 70 of the pallet stack is betweenbottom 64 and top 66 of the head. At that position, once a layer of filmhas been wrapped about the top edge of sides S1-S4, the top-wrappingprocedure commences.

With reference to FIG. 3, and generally to FIGS. 4-7, head 44 movesaround first corner C1 of pallet stack 12, and as it does so, the headmoves upwardly along vertical rail 40 until head bottom 64 is at a levelgenerally above top 70 of the pallet stack. Thus, at a point along firstside S1 just past first corner C1, head 44 is at a level that is abovetop 70 of pallet stack 12. The movement of head 44 along top 70 and thento a level above the top after it passes first corner C1 causes a bottomedge 72 of film 54 to catch the upper portion of the first corner ofpallet stack 12, as shown in particular in FIG. 6.

To make first pass P1, shown in FIGS. 3A and 3E, head 44 movescounterclockwise around to opposing third corner C3, while bottom 64 ofthe head remains at a level above pallet stack 12 to ensure that film 54does not prematurely catch on sides S1 and S2 of the stack. The movementof head 44 causes film 54 to extend over top 70 of stack 12 from firstcorner C1 to third corner C3. To secure film 54, once head 44 reaches apoint along second side S2 near third corner C3, the head movesdownwardly along vertical rail 34 until bottom 64 of the head is at alevel that is below top 70 of pallet stack 12. Head 44 continues to movecounterclockwise around third corner C3 and along third side S3, thuscausing bottom edge 72 of film 54 to catch the top of the third corner,keeping the film tight across stack top 70.

Head 44 moves along third side S3 of pallet stack, remaining at a levelwhere bottom 64 of the head is below top 70 of pallet stack 12. To makesecond pass P2, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3E, head 44 moves around fourthcorner C4, and at a point along fourth side S4 just past the fourthcorner, the head moves upwardly until bottom 64 of the head is at alevel that is above top 70 of pallet stack 12. This movement of head 44causes bottom edge 72 of film 54 to catch fourth corner C4. Head 44continues to move counterclockwise at a level above top 70 of stack 12over to second corner C2. At a point along first side S1 just beforesecond corner C2, head 44 moves downwardly until bottom 64 of the headis at a level that is below top 70 of stack 12, causing film 54 toextend across the top of the stack from fourth corner C4 to the secondcorner. Head 44 continues around second corner C2 to second side S2 andfilm 54 catches on the second corner, securing the tension of the filmacross top 70 of stack 12.

At this point, film 54 is in an X-shaped pattern across top 70 of palletstack 12, but the film may not be wide enough to cover the entire topsurface. In addition, a second alternating layer of film 54 on top 70 ofpallet stack 12 typically is desired. Thus, head 44 proceeds to thirdpass P3, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3E. Head 44 continues along secondside S2 and around third corner C3, remaining at a level where bottom 64of the head is below top 70 of stack 12. When head 44 reaches a pointalong third side S3 just past third corner C3, the head moves upwardlyuntil bottom 64 of the head is at a level above top 70 of stack 12,causing bottom edge 72 of film 54 to catch on third corner C3. Head 44continues to move counterclockwise at a level above top 70 of stack 12over to first corner C1. At a point along fourth side S4 just beforefirst corner C1, head 44 moves downwardly until bottom 64 of the head isat a level below top 70 of stack 12, causing film 54 to extend acrossthe stack from third corner C3 to the first corner. Head 44 continuesaround first corner C1 to first side S1 and film 54 catches on the firstcorner, securing the tension of the film across top 70 of stack 12.

Head 44 proceeds to fourth pass P4, as shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E. Head 44continues along first side S1 and around second corner C2, remaining ata level where bottom 64 of the head is below the level of stack top 70,as shown in FIG. 5. When head 44 moves just past second corner C2 alongsecond side S2, the head moves upwardly until bottom 64 of the head isat a level above top 70 of stack 12, causing bottom edge 72 of film 54to catch on second corner C2, as shown in FIG. 7. Head 44 continues tomove counterclockwise at a level above top 70 of stack 12 over to fourthcorner C4. At a point along third side S3 just before fourth corner C4,head 44 moves downwardly until bottom 64 of the head is at a level belowtop 70 of stack 12, causing film 54 to extend across the stack fromsecond corner C2 to the fourth corner. Head 44 continues around fourthcorner C4 to fourth side S4 and film 54 catches on the fourth corner,securing the tension of the film across top 70 of stack 12.

Once head 44 reaches fourth side S2 of pallet stack 12 after the abovetop-wrapping, the head preferably slides downwardly along vertical rail34 and continues to move counterclockwise, creating a second layer offilm 54 around sides S1-S4 of the stack from top 70 to bottom 68. Oncehead 44 reaches a level at about pallet stack bottom 68, film 54 onstack 12 is separated from film roll 52 via cutting or tearing,completing the stretch-wrap process.

Top surface 70 of pallet stack 12 is thus covered with film 54 accordingto the method of the present invention. Because the process keepstension on film 54 as top 70 of pallet stack 12 is wrapped, the film istight and stable, creating a sealed protective layer. This tension ismaintained during the wrapping process by the movement of head 44downwardly to a level where bottom 64 is below top 70 of stack 12 andthen upwardly above the stack, as bottom edge 72 of film 54 catches eachrespective corner C1-C4. Preferably, the speed of the rotationalmovement of radial arm 32 and the speed of the vertical movement of head44 along rail 40 are variable, which allows the above-described passesP1-P4 to be efficiently accomplished.

The method of the present invention provides protection for top 70 ofproduct stack 12, without the use of a separate cap. This leads toreduced material cost, as there is no need to purchase a separate cap,as well as reduced labor cost, since positioning of the cap on top 70 ofpallet stack 12 is eliminated.

The ability to automatically stretch-wrap sides S1-S4 and top 70 ofpallet stack 12 in one operation creates at least one consistent layerof film 54 about stack 12. This layer of film 54 is relatively sealedabout top 70 of stack 12, protecting the product in the stack andthereby reducing the possibility of damage to the product caused in theprior art by elements such as rain, snow and dirt. Such reduction ofdamage in turn results in less product that must be scrapped, creatingadditional cost savings.

It is important to note that the aforementioned steps are not confinedto a particular order or sequence. For example, top 70 of stack 12 maybe wrapped before sides S1-S4 are wrapped, without affecting the conceptof the invention. In addition, while reference has been made to aproduct stack 12 on a pallet, the invention applies to any product thatis wrapped with stretch film, including a single product or multipleproducts, whether or not they are disposed on a pallet. Moreover, thedescription of stretch-wrap machine 10 has been by way of example only,as other machines known in the art may be adapted to perform the methodwithout affecting the overall concept of the invention. For example, amachine that employs a fixed head 44 and instead moves product stack 12,may be adapted to accomplish the method of the present invention.

Accordingly, the method for wrapping product of the present invention issimplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficientsystem which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides foreliminating difficulties encountered with prior art wrapping systems,and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way ofexample, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the improved method for wrapping productis constructed, arranged and used, the characteristics of theconstruction and arrangement, and the advantageous, new and usefulresults obtained; the new and useful steps, elements, arrangements,parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.

1. A method for wrapping a product, said product including a pluralityof sides and a top, comprising the steps of: providing a wrappingmaterial adjacent said product for wrapping the product; wrapping saidwrapping material about said top of said product; when wrapping saidtop, engaging a first upper corner of said product with said wrappingmaterial; laying said wrapping material across said top of said productfrom said first upper corner to a second upper corner of the product;and engaging said second upper corner with said wrapping material,whereby the wrapping material is secured across said top of saidproduct.
 2. The method for wrapping a product of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of wrapping said sides of said product.
 3. Themethod for wrapping a product of claim 1, wherein said first uppercorner diagonally opposes said second upper corner.
 4. The method forwrapping a product of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: engaginga third upper corner of said product with said wrapping material; layingthe wrapping material across said top of said product from said thirdupper corner to a fourth upper corner of the product; and engaging saidfourth upper corner with said wrapping material.
 5. The method forwrapping a product of claim 4, wherein said third upper cornerdiagonally opposes said fourth upper corner.
 6. The method for wrappinga product of claim 1, wherein said product is disposed on a shippingpallet.
 7. A product wrapped according to the method of claim
 1. 8. Themethod for wrapping a product of claim 1, wherein said steps of wrappingsaid wrapping material about said sides of said product, engaging saidupper corners of the product, and laying said wrapping material acrosssaid top of the product, are performed by a wrapping machine including ahead for holding said wrapping material, whereby said head causes saidwrapping material to engage said upper corners of said product andcauses the wrapping material to lay across said top of the product.
 9. Amethod for wrapping a product, said product including a plurality ofsides and a top, comprising the steps of: providing a wrapping materialadjacent said product for wrapping the product; wrapping said wrappingmaterial about said sides of said product; engaging a first upper cornerof said product with said wrapping material; laying said wrappingmaterial across said top of said product from said first upper corner toa second upper corner of the product; engaging said second upper cornerwith said wrapping material; moving said wrapping material from saidsecond upper corner to a third upper corner of said top of said product;engaging said third upper corner with said wrapping material; layingsaid wrapping material across said top of said product from said thirdupper corner to a fourth upper corner of the product; and engaging saidfourth upper corner with said wrapping material, whereby the wrappingmaterial is secured across said top of said product.
 10. The method forwrapping a product of claim 9, wherein said step of moving said wrappingmaterial from said second upper corner of said product to said thirdupper corner includes moving said the wrapping material about a side ofthe product.
 11. The method for wrapping a product of claim 9, whereinsaid first upper corner diagonally opposes said second upper corner, andsaid third upper corner diagonally opposes said fourth upper corner. 12.The method for wrapping a product of claim 9, wherein said product isdisposed on a shipping pallet.
 13. A product wrapped according to themethod of claim
 9. 14. The method for wrapping a product of claim 9,wherein said steps of wrapping said wrapping material about said sidesof said product, engaging said upper corners of the product, and layingsaid wrapping material across said top of the product, are performed bya wrapping machine including a head for holding said wrapping material,whereby said head causes said wrapping material to engage said uppercorners of said product and causes the wrapping material to lay acrosssaid top of the product.